Cincinnati Children’s Receives Largest Donation in Hospital’s History

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announced on October 4 it will receive the single largest donation to the hospital since it was established in 1883. Convalescent Hospital for Children will donate $20 million over eight years. The money will be used to expand mental health facilities at Cincinnati Children’s campus in College Hill and long-term and respite care services at the hospital’s Liberty Township campus in Butler County.

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center announced on Oct. 4 it will receive the single largest donation to the hospital since it was established in 1883. Convalescent Hospital for Children will donate $20 million over eight years. The money will be used to expand mental health facilities at the Cincinnati Children’s campus in College Hill and long-term and respite care services at the hospital’s Liberty Township campus in Butler County.

About $11 million of the $20 million gift will be used to expand facilities at the College Hill Campus, where Cincinnati Children’s provides mental health and behavioral services to more than 2,100 children each year. Cincinnati Children’s opened the campus in December 2002, after Convalescent Hospital for Children provided the funding to purchase the property at 5642 Hamilton Ave. The existing facility will be renovated and all rooms will be made private (for single patients).

A new, three-story building will be constructed behind the existing hospital to accommodate all residential patients. Although the two buildings will be attached, acute-care inpatients and residential-care patients will be separated due to their different healthcare needs. The project is scheduled to begin by the end of the year.

The remaining $9 million will be spent to provide long-term care and respite services on the Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Township Campus. The hospital said it will announce details regarding this project at a later date.

Michael Fisher, president & CEO of the hospital, said in a statement for the press that it is ”extremely grateful” for the support provided by Convalescent Hospital for Children. “This extraordinary gift will make it possible for us to better meet the growing need for mental health and long-term care for kids and teens in our area,” Fisher added.

The $20 million gift will help fund a substantial portion of the estimated total cost of both projects. Cincinnati Children’s will seek additional philanthropic support to cover the remainder of the project costs.